Vacationing in Mexico - Safety

I recently went on a vacation to Mexico…yes that dangerous place where everyone tells you not to go because something terrible is bound to happen to you. I have heard this from so many different people the last couple of years and I find it very difficult to group an entire country into one statement. There are certain places in Mexico that I feel much safer in than I do in my own town. Today I am going to share 14 safety precautions to take while on vacation in Mexico, or anywhere for that matter, to ensure your safety and also to not get ripped off.

#1 Make sure to never say it is your first time visiting because you are a target to get higher prices.
#2 Do research on how much taxi rides and/or rental cars should be.
#3 If you are a female make sure when you are walking to keep your purse close to your body and on the side facing away from the street. Smaller purses, preferably ones that can be wrapped around your wrist, are better.
#4 If it is your honeymoon, as tempting as it may be, do not say you are honeymooners because you are once again a target.
#5 Always check your bill especially if you have been drinking because in resort and common vacation locations they will try to charge you for extra drinks.
#6 If you do rent a car, gas attendants will require they fill up your tank. Make sure to watch them zero out the amount from the previous driver.
#7 If you meet someone at the airport or on the plane and they seem nice never share a cab with them to your hotel/house/condo that you are renting. They then know where you are staying and can  break in when you aren't there or worse, when you are there. This is a scam that can happen anywhere. Don’t let anyone know where you are staying.
#8 An obvious one is to not walk around after midnight with a group or by yourself. It isn't safe in the States and it isn't safe while traveling.
#9 This is a personal preference, but if you are concerned about getting any jewelry stolen then leave them at home. Vacation is a time to relax, not to be paranoid.

#10 There are dangerous places in Mexico but the best place to go is an island like Cozumel or Isla Mujeres. Their livelihood is based on you coming back. There are typically police and military all over these island for protection, to ensure tourism keeps booming.
#11 Trip insurance is always a good idea. Don’t get it through the airlines because it will only cover your flight and it quite costly. Go through an independent trip insurance provider and it will run you about $60. It could save you a lot of money and hassle.
#12 It is a good idea to make photo copies of your passport, major credit cards and bank account information. This is not to carry with you but to keep in the hotel safe just in case something happens to the originals.

#13 Do not post on Facebook that you will be away because that allows for an easy home invasion.
#14 Ask a neighbor to get your mail instead of stopping it all together. Anyone at the Post Office can then see who is on vacation and, once again, that welcomes in an opportunity for a  home invasion while you are away.


Safe Travels!    

Mary K. Marsh

Wedding Season Is Fast Approaching

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Safety For Your Home While Traveling

It’s so exciting to go on a vacation, isn't it?  To go on a trip to a new, exotic place.  It’s hard not to be excited, right?  There are so many things to do before you go – pack your bags, check with the airline, make sure the camera is charged….did you pack the sunscreen?  One of the most important steps in preparing for a trip is to make sure that your home is secure while you are away.  There are several easy steps you can take to make sure your home and property are safe in your absence.

First and foremost, make your home look like it’s still occupied!  There are several ways to do this.  This is an easy one especially if you have an animal at home that will need tending while you are gone.  Have a trusted friend or neighbor come by daily (at varying times) to take care of your pets.  If you don’t have a pet at home, have someone come by and bring in your mail.  Having your mail service stopped is a sure sign to a burglar that no one is home.  If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, have someone come by and shovel your walk or mow your grass, water the garden or take out your trash on garbage day.

Most people will use a timer on their interior lights to make it look like they are home.  While this is a good idea, if you set an interior timer to go off at the same time every day, if a would-be burglar is watching your house this will indicate that you are not home.  The trick is to purchase a timer that can be set for varying times of day or if you have the ability, control the lights at home from your cell phone while you are gone – at different times during the day and night.  You also might want to consider installing a motion sensor light inside that way if someone does get into your home they may be fooled into thinking that someone is there after all and change their mind about what they’re doing.

 In addition, DON’T advertise on-line that you are going to be away and for how long!  This is very hard for people to resist.  It’s so tempting to want to tell all of your 300 closest social media friends that you are going on a fabulous trip.  Try to resist uploading vacation photos while you are still away.  I know you think everyone else wants to see the play by play of your vacation but they can wait until you have returned.
Other good rules of thumb are to make sure to have your electronics plugged into a surge protector so that in the event of a power outage your computer and television are not damaged.  Keep your thermostat set between 55 and 80 degrees and have someone run the water for a bit when they come by to check on the house.  This will ward off damage from frozen pipes.   Be sure to take your insurance agents phone number and your insurance policy number with you on your trip.  This way in the event that something does go wrong while you’re away, you will know just who to call.  Bon voyage!

Airplane Travel - Protect Yourself From Illness

While traveling …seeing the person on your airplane wearing a surgical mask, can be rather frightening!  Are they protecting you or themselves?  As it turns out, it may be both, according to Flustore.com.  It can help you avoid breathing in the infectious germs as well as protect those around you, by you not breathing out the germs onto others.

There are several other ways to protect yourself during air travel from various infectious illnesses.  Some basic simple steps may help you get to your destination healthy.

 Drink plenty of fluids, before and during your flight.  To save money, bring an empty water bottle to the airport and fill it from a water fountain after going through security

 Wash your hands often.  When soap and water are not available, bring along hand sanitizer.

 Be rested before you travel so that your body is stronger to fight the germs

 Get vaccinated against the flu

 Bring along zinc lozenges, vitamin C and Zicam

 Avoid the seat pocket in front of you.  People put everything in there, tissues, baby diapers, used food wrappers all carrying germs you do not want





Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!  Eating healthy, reducing stress, exercising regularly and getting enough rest may be enough to help you stay healthy!